Kitchen advice

[chrisd]

My Home Logistics Director is considering a new kitchen, apparently we are to knock down the wall between our kitchen and utility room and spend obscene sums of money.

Today we looked at Wren kitchens and they seem pretty well made and one of the few outlets that have loads of kitchens on display

Has anyone used Wren and any good/bad comments ?

Many thanks

 

[SteveW86]

We have a friend who has recently knocked down a wall separating their kitchen and dining room to make it open plan and therefore a bit more sociable. I know they were looking at wren kitchens, but not sure what they ended up with, I'll ask them.

 

[spongebob59]

My Home Logistics Director is considering a new kitchen, apparently we are to knock down the wall between our kitchen and utility room and spend obscene sums of money.

Today we looked at Wren kitchens and they seem pretty well made and one of the few outlets that have loads of kitchens on display

Has anyone used Wren and any good/bad comments ?

Many thanks

Snap, we've just knocked a wall down.

Our builder is also a kitchen fitter.
He's suggested Howdens.

They do a free fitting and send you a 3d image with 2 or 3 options.

He also said Wickes are quite good but steer clear of bandq and home base.

 

[fundy]

We spoke to wren when we were looking recently but werent that impressed with them and that was before reading the online reviews!

We were fortunate in that we managed to find an ex display kitchen at intoto that worked for us, so got a higher spec for less money.

If we bought from the high street we were looking to buy a Crown kitchen through an independent.

Also, quality of the fitter, is as important if not more so than the quality of the kitchen components!

Edit:
Also, work out what you actually want/need in your kitchen. Most of the high street retailers make their money on the units so tend to try and cram as many units in as possible rather than actually designing a kitchen that works for you and your family

 

[chrisd]

Snap, we've just knocked a wall down.

Our builder is also a kitchen fitter.
He's suggested Howdens.

They do a free fitting and send you a 3d image with 2 or 3 options.

He also said Wickes are quite good but steer clear of bandq and home base.

We've been to Howdens but they have hardly any display kitchens

 

[upsidedown]

Snap, we've just knocked a wall down.

Our builder is also a kitchen fitter.
He's suggested Howdens.

They do a free fitting and send you a 3d image with 2 or 3 options.

He also said Wickes are quite good but steer clear of bandq and home base.

We put a Howdens kitchen in when we renovated 3 years ago, very happy with them and after care. There was a slight rise in the corner where the two work surfaces butted up to each other after 4 months and was sorted FOC

 

[Foxholer]

Can't contribute anything about Wren's but I'd query the need/logic about knocking down that wall - for a couple of reasons.

1. Walls can actually be great things to have! They provide places for storage or appliances to be located/mounted!

2. Utilities, like washing machines, dryers of 'main' freezers don't belong in the kitchen! The only reasons they tend to be there are for ease of plumbing and for most folk's lack of alternative space! If possible, I'd even shift any boiler located in a kitchen to the Utility room!

Of course, I have no idea exactly what your particular circumstances are, but that's certainly my 'philosophy' for kitchens vs utility rooms!

Oh. And if the utility room is open to the outside, I'm sure it's a place where 'less than sparkling clean' clothes (like boots etc) can be parked - at least temporarily. That facility is very likely lost if the whole area is turned into a single area - and I'm certain that would be missed, as a kitchen has to be sparklingly clean!

 

[chrisd]

Can't contribute anything about Wren's but I'd query the need/logic about knocking down that wall - for a couple of reasons.

1. Walls can actually be great things to have! They provide places for storage or appliances to be located/mounted!

2. Utilities, like washing machines, dryers of 'main' freezers don't belong in the kitchen! The only reasons they tend to be there are for ease of plumbing and for most folk's lack of alternative space! If possible, I'd even shift any boiler located in a kitchen to the Utility room!

Of course, I have no idea exactly what your particular circumstances are, but that's certainly my 'philosophy' for kitchens vs utility rooms!

Oh. And if the utility room is open to the outside, I'm sure it's a place where 'less than sparkling clean' clothes (like boots etc) can be parked - at least temporarily. That facility is very likely lost if the whole area is turned into a single area - and I'm certain that would be missed, as a kitchen has to be sparklingly clean!

Thanks for your concern but we have carefully considered all of the ramifications and have plenty of space to cope with the lost dirty area. ALso it gives us the chance for a 4m bifold to the garden and we still retain a decent size dining room and a sizeable studio that we gained from a partial garage conversion which could replace the utility room

 

[spongebob59]

We've been to Howdens but they have hardly any display kitchens

Which ones Chris ?

 

[chrisd]

Which ones Chris ?

There's 2 here in Ashford, one has no displays and the other just about 4. Wrens in Ramsgate have loads

 

[spongebob59]

There's 2 here in Ashford, one has no displays and the other just about 4. Wrens in Ramsgate have loads

The one at broad oak has a small showroom,if I find any others I'll let you know.
Said to avoid magnet too.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

My last kitchen I put into my kitchen is a Wren, went through the Orpington branch. It is very much more substantial than almost anything else. My original preference was a Magnet kitchen, but they dont make them anything like how they used to, so they were out of the equation.
It's the installer who will make or break your kitchen. but I would say Wren are very good for their units, we also had their quartz worktops. I did source my own appliances and sink gubbins.

 

[chrisd]

Thanks guys I've read all your posts and am greatful for your comments

 

[fundy]

Just fyi, i assume you know wren is what used to be hygena kitchens

The comments on wikipedia re consumer confidence:

In Spring 2016 Wren Kitchens was one of 12 kitchen brands researched by WHICH? Consumer Association. WrenLiving came second from last out of the 12 kitchen companies assessed.

In March 2016, Wren Kitchens was fined £12,000 after pleading guilty to breaking the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Regulation 9 and the European Communities Act 1972 Section 2(2). The fine is a result of misleading customers on kitchen pricing.

In May 2015, Wren Kitchens was investigated by BBC Watchdog for providing customers with poor customer service. The investigation found that the company had provided partial orders to customers and was extremely slow to rectify issues. In some cases, customers were left without a functioning kitchen for seven months. Wren Kitchens responded by stating that they are heavily investing in improving their customer service department

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren_Kitchens

 

[PhilTheFragger]

another plus 1 for Howdens

They cant mock up every kitchen in their ranges, but the online catalogue gives a pretty good idea whats what

 

[chrisd]

Just fyi, i assume you know wren is what used to be hygena kitchens

The comments on wikipedia re consumer confidence:

In Spring 2016 Wren Kitchens was one of 12 kitchen brands researched by WHICH? Consumer Association. WrenLiving came second from last out of the 12 kitchen companies assessed.

In March 2016, Wren Kitchens was fined £12,000 after pleading guilty to breaking the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Regulation 9 and the European Communities Act 1972 Section 2(2). The fine is a result of misleading customers on kitchen pricing.

In May 2015, Wren Kitchens was investigated by BBC Watchdog for providing customers with poor customer service. The investigation found that the company had provided partial orders to customers and was extremely slow to rectify issues. In some cases, customers were left without a functioning kitchen for seven months. Wren Kitchens responded by stating that they are heavily investing in improving their customer service department

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren_Kitchens

Thanks, I didn't know that

another plus 1 for Howdens

They cant mock up every kitchen in their ranges, but the online catalogue gives a pretty good idea whats what

The biggest downside is trying to. See the colours from a 2" X 1" pic in a brochure

 

[Pin-seeker]

Have you looked at smaller independent kitchen suppliers?
Might be worth a look.
I've fitted a few kitchens with my mate & he tends to use Howdens.
Good quality & he's had no problems with them.
Might also be better finding a good kitchen fitter 1st,as they'll probably get a better deal than you.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We also went through Howdens and would again emphasise how important the joiner / fitter is. Our kitchen is 8yrs old now and it is still in good condition. We would buy from Howdens again.

Pin-Seekers last sentence is one to follow, get the fitter 1st, the kitchen can follow.

 

[Lanark_Golfer]

I'm am currently going through same process, converting the garage and knocking down walls between kitchen, dining room, sunroom and garage. We looked around and were between Wren and Howdens, we have decided on Howdens following several good recommendations.

 

[NWJocko]

In our last house, and probably next year in current, we used an independent fitter and got the kitchen from Howdens. Their kitchens are really good, as you say you can't see too many of them but from the design software got a fair idea and were very happy how it turned out.

Might have changed but the fitter had to buy the kitchen from Howdens, we couldn't as you had to have a trade account with them iirc.